The annexe building of Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) near Anna Bus Stand here will soon get a liquefied oxygen plant, said Dean (in-charge) S. Vadivel Murugan.

“A Chennai-based company will set up the infrastructure in a span of one month,” he added.

While the tank installed at the GRH has a capacity of 10 kilolitres, the one to be set up at the extension building was of six-kilolitre capacity, the authorities said.

The tank would provide liquid oxygen for a week, after which the company would refill it.

The cost of refilling, which was estimated at Rs.4 lakh, would be borne by the hospital.

The liquefied oxygen was cost-effective too, they also added.

The land for setting up the plant had already been earmarked.

The Directorate of Medical Education had sanctioned funds for the plant, said S.C. Ganesh Prabhu, Director, Institute of Anaesthesiology, GRH.

“With the installation of the tank, transportation of oxygen cylinders from the GRH to the annexe building can be avoided and the hazards in handling and storing cylinders can also be done away with,” Dr.Prabhu added.

At present, 20 D-type cylinders were being consumed every day, and the new building was equipped with the required pipeline connections.

Once the plant was installed, it would ensure uninterrupted oxygen supply to orthopaedic trauma ward, head injury ward, neuro-surgery ward, and intensive care ward.

The system was expected to save those who were on ventilators and people with respiratory problems.

Licence

The licence for storing the explosive material would be obtained by the company, the hospital authorities noted.